IPL 2023: Match 5 RCB vs MI Preview, Playing XI, Live Streaming Details & Updates

Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The Royal Challengers Bangalore will be hosting five-time champions Mumbai Indians on April 2, Sunday, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore in the fifth game of the Indian Premier League 2023. After failing to get their hands on the trophy last year, the two sides will be eying for a win to kick-start their campaign on a high note.

While RCB made it to the playoffs but failed to make it to the summit clash last season, Mumbai Indians had their worst season last year as they finished with a wooden spoon. Both sides will be missing some of their key players in the upcoming contest. While Josh Hazlewood will not be seen playing for RCB in the first half of the tournament, Mumbai Indians will be without the services of Jasprit Bumrah.

As for RCB, skipper Faf du Plessis has been in good form in the T20 format, as was seen during his time with the Johannesburg Super Kings during the inaugural SA20 tournament. Former RCB skipper Virat Kohli too is in great form currently and his recent exploits in the white-ball format for India are known to all. Hence, the side will be gunning for their maiden IPL title this time again.

Mumbai Indians will be high on confidence as they will have England star Jofra Archer leading their pace attack this time. In the absence of Bumrah, the Rohit Sharma-led side will be hoping for Archer to be at his best and do wonders for the side. Being the most successful team of the competition and having dominated the cash-rich event over the years, Mumbai would be aiming for their record sixth title.

Pitch and Conditions

The surface at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru assists the batters well. The power hitters will enjoy their time on the field and the ball typically comes nicely onto the bat. As for the bowlers, both, the spinners and the pacers, will have to maintain line and length so as to get the best out of the pitch.

Probable Playing XI for RCB vs MI

Royal Challengers Bangalore

RCB managed to put forth a strong squad during the auction ahead of the tournament. This time again, the team has good chance of making it to the playoffs, but everything will depend upon how consistently the players perform. Faf du Plessis would aim to get a good balance of Indian and overseas players to get the tournament going.

Probable Playing XI: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Suyash Prabhudessai, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Michael Bracewell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Reece Topley, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj

Mumbai Indians

After a forgettable season last year, all eyes would be on the Mumbai Indians as fans would be eager to see what strategic changes the team makes so as to get back to winning ways. Rohit Sharma would be at the helm this time again, and with some in-form players like Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David, and Tilak Varma on the side, Mumbai will be the favorites to win the upcoming contest

Probable Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Hrithik Shokeen, Kumar Kartikeya, Jofra Archer, Arshad Khan, and Jason Behrendorff.

RCB vs MI Head to Head

Played – 30 Royal Challengers Bangalore- 13